12" single edged spear point blade, 1.4" wide at ricasso. Overall length 16.75". 4.75" hilt with 3.75" silver plated brass cross guard and turned wood grip with 8 grasping grooves. Blade etched HOSPITAL CORPS./U.S. ARMY in two lines on the reverse about 2" from the hilt. Includes two brass mounted leather scabbards, both the Type I Watervliet pattern with the leather belt loop and the Type II Rock Island Arsenal pattern with the brass Prairie Belt hanging hook. These rare knives were really designed as tools for clearing brush and cutting branches for use as splints and potentially even stretcher poles. They were the first in a long line of US military medical corps knives and bolos that would be produced through the mid-20th century. The first run of these knives (Type I) were produced in 1889 at Springfield Arsenal with a total of 650 made. In 1892 an additional run of 406 was produced at Springfield. A scarce Indian Wars and Spanish American Wars period US military knife that is desirable for any collection of weapons from those periods.